No. 5. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 51 



cause of the nature of the examinations required, these experts are 

 usually chemists. They must not only know how to make the neces- 

 sary examinations, but they must know what examinations are re- 

 quired for the great varieties of foods on sale, and they must also 

 be able clearly to interpret the results of such examinations. They 

 must understand the meanings of food names, must know the pro- 

 cesses by which the serveral kinds of foods are commonly prepared, 

 and they must be able in the presentation of testimony to court and 

 jury, if they are to be highly useful in the enforcement of these laws. 

 The policy of the Bureau has been to enlist the aid of chemists who 

 have had years of experience, and to continue in its employment those 

 who have proven efficient in these several qualities. In order that 

 the cost of such high class service might not be too great for the per- 

 formance of a large volume of examinations, the Bureau has se- 

 cured the services of the heads of commercial and institutional 

 laboratories located in different sections of the State. This policy 

 secures the most prompt delivery of perishable samples for examina- 

 tion, and the presentation of testimony in the courts with the mini- 

 mum of traveling expense. In order to protect the public interest, 

 the contract w^ith these experts prohibits their undertaking any pri- 

 vate service in matters relating to food production, manufacture or 

 sale. The service performed is paid for not by salary, but by fee 

 fixed by schedule and rated according to the time and cost of the 

 examination involved. We believe that by the method above de- 

 scribed, Pennsylvania has secured expert service which, for quality 

 and economy, is surpassed by no other state in the Union, 



The Bureau employs an experienced bacteriologist for certain spe- 

 cial service. 



LAW OFFICERS 



Owing to the highly specific character of tlie cases arising under 

 the food laws, it is often necessary for the service to employ in the 

 various portions of the State special counsel for the conduct of 

 prosecutions arising under the several food acts. For the same rea- 

 son, a general counsel is employed to advise the Commissioner upon 

 legal points, and also to aid in the prosecution of cases of special 

 difficulty or importance. These special counsel are employed not 

 usually by salary, but on the terms usually governing the private 

 employ of attorneys. 



One of the problems always arising with a decentralized working 

 force, is to secure the co-operation of the force so that it shall work 

 uniformly and harmoniously in the various districts. To secure this 

 unification of service, the special agents are brought together from 

 time to time for the discussion of the details of their duties, and are 

 required to make frequent periodic reports of their activities of the 

 Commissioner, so that he may instruct and guide them therein. The 

 technical experts are organized as a Board of Chemists, which meets 

 periodically to consult upon technical matters pertaining to their 

 duties so that their service also may be unified. 



